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TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.

I am looking for a new 4 season tent as my old Macpac 4 season is nearing its EOL.

I have been looking at numerous tents in particular weight, ease of setup and disassembly. The best I have found so far is the Kaitum 3 GT, weighs packed in original at 4.1kg which is lighter than the Macpac.

When it is at its minimum weight of 3.4kg, weight is obviously one factor but what I am looking for is personal experience with this tent or similar in the Hilleberg line. The environment that I will use this is obviously above the snow line (for 2 people), high winds and maybe casual weekend use.

AH I have the FairyDown Plateau myself and in a similar situation, the Kaitum isn't as strong as the FD Plateau but the Macpac version is not as strong as the FD production due to the FD having full sleeves for the poles not clips. Large strong winter tents are a hard decision

Moondog55 wrote:AH I have the FairyDown Plateau myself and in a similar situation, the Kaitum isn't as strong as the FD Plateau but the Macpac version is not as strong as the FD production due to the FD having full sleeves for the poles not clips. Large strong winter tents are a hard decision

It is a hard decision, yes the full sleeves for the two main poles on the plateau are awesome and the clips can wear the fly in string winds (repaired twice lol).

I don't have any experience with the Macpacs, but have a Hilleberg Saivo and have just ordered myself a Nammatj 3 GT. I have had the Saivo in some horrendous winds and it's rock solid. Thats it. Have spent some time in my mates Nammatj and it's equally good, and simple to put up. Only reason we are getting the Nammtj is the huge amount of room you get with the GT models in the vestibule which will make cooking in really bad weather a cinch, something that is tricky with the sloping walls of the Saivo. I have seen the Hellsport on line and they look impressive. I think weight is a factor with any of the better true 4 season tents, but I am prepared to deal with it because of the confidence these tents give you in crap conditions. Integral pitch is a godsend when you have to put them up in windy weather.

I have the H'berg Nallo GT in 2 and 3. The 2 is a bit too cozy for 2 adults, but the 3 is perfect. Use if for ski touring on Bogong. No probs in 90kph winds, or with the 80cm of snow we had dumped on us last year, although, with the big snowfall, it got a bit smaller inside! Plenty of room for sitting , and great to have the extended vestibule. The Kaitum has a higher tail end, I think, but I wouldn't find this that useful, unless you were wanting to sit down the tail end of the tent, and I can't see any particular reason for needing to do so, unless you bought the 2 person version.

I have the Kaitum 2 but not the GT. It is a bulletproof tent. Coped with Was SW gales. Sadly we no longer snow camp but it would cope with anywhere I have ever camped on the main range. It has 2 large vestibules. It has great airflow. In many ways it is the ultimate tent for bad weather. I can't envisage a trip that needed the GT extension. In the states they hike with their husky dog or similar but our national parks are a bit more restrictive. We mainly use it for extended kayaking trips or if we expect long periods in the tent. We have an Anjan 3 as well which is good for long bushwalking trips and lighter but its not like the Kaitum. I had a problem with the floor of the inner and Hilleberg couriered me a replacement in a few days - fantastic after sales service.

Thanks for everyone's input, I was out of range over the weekend and was not reading as I had no signal.

Your feedback aided in the decision making process, I am now the proud owner of a Kaitum 3 GT (Ordered this morning). I ended up buying it from Wildearth, once I looked elsewhere (NZ, USA and UK) the price was actually lower than buying it offshore.

Once again thank you all for your input, I look forward to testing it out now Winter is here.

Maybe you should drop into Pretty Valley at some stage in August so we can all compare our new tents?A new winter tent is probably the hardest big ticket item to decide onI hope you got a red one, Red tents are so much faster

Moondog55 wrote:Maybe you should drop into Pretty Valley at some stage in August so we can all compare our new tents?A new winter tent is probably the hardest big ticket item to decide onI hope you got a red one, Red tents are so much faster

Hey There Moondog,

Yes I got the Red one My Mercedes is red so had to get something in red and just as fast lol.

Yes winter tents are the hardest and biggest ticket items (next comes trekking poles) to decide on and to purchase.

A winter meet up to test out the strength and durabability of winter tents would be fun.